In this article we will be considering three points:
1. What is the kingdom of God
2. Why do we need kingdom of God in our lives
3. What are the four types of harvest that we have.
Every natural harvest starts with seed planting in the soil. If you've planted in the Garden, you will know that mere planting a seed in the soil is not just enough to guarantee bountiful harvest. It tskes effort to put good nutrients in the soil to keep the crop growing and uprooting the Weeds.Jesus used these various ideas in Mark 4 to explain necessary conditions of the heart that prepares a Believer for God's Kingdom. It teaches us how to receive every good and perfect gift from him and it is called a Harvest. I don't know about you but I want to receive every good gift in every harvest he has for me. Let's find out what kind of heart I prepared to receive the kingdom of God and produce a harvest.Firstly, it's important we know what the
It's not just knowing Jesus as your lord and personal Savior and not for us to receive the harvest God want us to have. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus told us that how our needs will be met when we put the kingdom of God first
This means,when we put God's will and His way of doing things first we won't have to struggle with this word system of getting our needs met and won't have to beg God to receive His promises. All of the things we need will be added to us and that's good news right!
You can Read: Repositioned to Prosper in Hard Times
You can see,we have a part to play, we must have a heart that puts God first. That's what Jesus was telling us in Mark chapter 4 about the parable of the Sower. He told us that there are four types of soils that we can condition our heart. Out of these four types of heart only one will condition the seed properly for bountiful harvest which is everything we need to Prosper in this life.
Every natural harvest require a seed and this is not far from the spiritual harvest. What is the seed that is planted in the soil of our heart? This seed is the word of God.
Now let's explain the four types of soil or heart and what they stand for to the word of God.
1. The first soil is described in Mark 4:14-15
How easy was it for the devil to come and steal the word? Because it was on the wayside - at the top surface it wasn't hidden to the soil. This is the heart that is unwilling to yield to the word of God. After displaying itself to stubbornness, pride and selfishness.
2. The second type of heart is described in Mark 4:16-17. Here we see a heart that receive the truth found in the word of god with joy but since they have not rooted in the word. When persecution comes in form of sickness, poverty and lack, debt etc, they blame God and find excuses rather than seeking the truth in God's word. This heart blame God and turn away from the truth. Just as young plant can easily be uprooted from the ground so is youthful Faith that is not carefully guided.3. The third type of heart is found in Mark 4 :18 -19.
Here we see the heart that at first received the word of God,this could even be someone who identifies his first as a Christian but at a time worries filled his heart and trust becomes more real to him than the truth in God's word. This heart pay more attention on what the world says than what God's words says and in doing so a harvest is forfeited.
4. Finally Jesus told us what good soil look like in Mark 4:20, “And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred”.
How is this soil different from other three?
This heart not only accept God's word but also cultivated what have been written down. Remember your success in life depends on what kind of soil your heart represents.
How Do We Seek First the Kingdom of God?
The entire Bible is designed and devoted to telling the great story of Jesus, and how His people can seek and be satisfied by Him. Studying the Word is the first and foremost way we can seek the Kingdom of God.
"But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33 NJKV)
A brother in the Lord once wrote: I’ve never thought of myself as an anxious person. Worry wasn’t something that seemed to define me as a kid. As I grew, I viewed fear as a weakness, something that would keep me from accomplishing what I wanted. In fact, I wasn’t even sure what anxiety was until recently when I hit burnout.My life came to a startling halt with a brain injury, a church plant, two kids, and a kitchen under remodel. I could no longer handle the stress of it all. I believed myself no longer capable of “taking care of it. Anxiety came bubbling out of me like an over-pressurized can of soda, revealing such little faith and such great pride. The anxiety that crashed over me during those few months of burnout challenged my view of seeking first the Kingdom of God. For years, I had been asking:
You can also Read: The Power of the Altar of Sacrifice
How do we seek first the kingdom of God? What is the will of God? Am I accomplishing the will of God in my life? How can I please God”?
“As I pondered in these questions, I set bigger and better expectations upon myself around who I was supposed to be, how I was supposed to act, and what would please God.At the end of it all, I found myself lonely, afraid, anxious, and wondering how I became so easily frustrated and stressed out all the time. It was in my valley that I began learning how to seek first the kingdom of God, as Jesus talks about in Matthew 6:21-34. It did not involve expectations of perfection but rather intimate knowledge of the King Himself”.
Seek First the Kingdom of God - Bible Passage
"Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?
So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?
Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.
Buy this Book: Cultivating the Kingdom of God in you
But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble." (Matthew 6:25-34 NKJV)
About the Author
Pastor Emmanuel Peters C.,is the founder and Pastor of Active Faith Church Port Harcourt River State Nigeria, where we are building people who are building the Church. Pastor's ministry mission is to help people discover God's dream for their Life, the Local Church, and the Last Days' Harvest. With a strong emphasis on the Faith and Grace of God and with a prophetic voice, Pastor Emmanuel Peters preaches and teaches in churches, conferences, and crusades both locally and throughout the world. He has produced books, tapes, and other teaching materials to empower, enable, and equip Believers with the Word of God. Pastor Emmanuel Peters is married to his wife Violet who with their three children, Nancy Davia Peter, Benita Judyann Peter, Bryan Wealth Peter, all serve together in the Ministry. Pastor Emmanuel Peters C, have headed schools in Port Harcourt, River State. He is a Motivational speaker, an academic coach and a mind developer. He is popularly know for his Television Ministry, Believers Word of Faith Broadcast (BWOFB ), which have blessed thousands across the Globe. He is a Prolific writer who has written best selling books in recent time.
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
0 Comments